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We're Running Out of Summers
Today is the last day of Summer 2021.
Never in the history of mankind have we been as comfortable and safe as we are today. In this world of comfort and safety, nothing feels urgent.
Deep down there’s a life we want to live, things we want to do, but we defer them to a future we’re not guaranteed.
We’re all sitting on reservoirs of untapped potential, and every year that passes by, the greater risk we run of never drawing on that potential.
“It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it.” – Seneca
Thinking in Terms of Summers
The current life expectancy for an American is 79 years, now subtract your age. I’ll use myself as an example — I’m 30, so there are hopefully at least 49 more summers for me.
If I have 49 more summers, how many of them am I going to be physically capable of the things I want to do?
I probably only have 10-15 more years of leaning on my body the way that I do today.
How many of those 49 summers will the people I want to do things with be around?
Our time with those approaching or past 79 years old is quickly coming to an end.
This is a tool for creating a sense of urgency. An honest relationship with time should change the way we plan and live our lives.
Finding the Time
A few years ago, I decided to stop giving away my time to watching sports all weekend.
I ‘d spend my weekdays eating healthy and working out. Then on the weekend I was drinking and eating to hang out in bars and watch football. Or March Madness or staying up all night to watch west coast NBA games. This was time I was spending watching someone else go out and live their life instead of living mine.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t watch sports or that it’s not fun. Do what you enjoy but make it a conscious decision.
Without ever really thinking about it, on any given Fall weekend, I would spend all day Saturday watching college football, eating fried food, and drinking beer. Then on Sunday, I’d wake up feeling groggy, watch NFL pregame shows, order Door Dash throughout the day and watch another 8-10 hours of football.
My weekends were trashing the work I was putting in during the week. Not only that, I wasn’t really doing anything. I wasn’t doing anything worth remembering. I wasn’t living like someone who wanted to maximize his time here.
What’s my point?
Don’t wake up one day and realize you’ve spent years living a life you didn’t mindfully choose.
Be aware of how you’re spending your time. Be conscious of the things that you’re turning into obligations. Be conscious of the things you’re doing because it’s what you’ve always done.
You have to find the hours to create your life. You have to find the hours to spend with people who won’t be here forever.
“How stupid to forget our mortality, and put off sensible plans to our fiftieth and sixtieth years, aiming to begin life from a point at which few have arrived!” – Seneca
Get Things on the Calendar
There’s never going to be a perfect time for anything.
How I’m putting this into practice….
I’ve always wanted to complete an Ironman but have been worried about the running (even though I don’t own a bike and have never swum in open water).
Until this past weekend, I’d never run more than 7 miles at once.
In a few weeks, I’ll run my first half marathon. In February, I’ll run my first marathon. By the time I run the marathon, I want to have the next challenge on the calendar.
These are all things I’ve wanted to do but was making the mistake of thinking “someday” was an actual day.
We all have these things in our heads; physical feats, trips we want to take, families we want to start. The time is now.
Start before you’re ready. Start planning 2022 today. Can you plan one thing to look forward to, for every other month next year? That’s six things total.
Make them a priority. Make a plan to train for the physical things. Give up the mundane to save money for the experiences.
These summers are going to keep flying by. It’s on us to meet them ready to live.
“Men for the sake of getting a living forget to live.” – Margaret Fuller
• The Tail End – The human lifespan in visuals
• Jesse Itzler on Building Your Life Resume
• On the Shortness of Life: Life Is Long if You Know How to Use It by Seneca